Workhorse captain’s milestone
Long-serving Manawatu¯ Cyclones forward Nicole Dickins will play her 50th game this weekend, and what a time to do it, in the team’s first playoff game.
At 28, Dickins is a Cyclones veteran. The loose forward is third on the list of most caps for Manawatu¯ and is the most-capped forward.
Team-mates and Black Ferns backs Selica Winiata (74) and Kristina Sue (56) are the only ones ahead of her, and the next best of the current crop is flanker Shanna Porima, who has played 35 games.
Dickins, whose mother Helen Dickins (nee Mccall) captained Manawatu¯ in the first New Zealand women’s provincial game in 1980, will co-captain the Cyclones against Canterbury in their Farah Palmer Cup semifinal in Christchurch today.
Dickins, who works as a clinical exercise physiologist, can’t remember who her first game was against, but it was in 2010 under then coach Wesley Clarke.
Today’s clash against Canterbury will be a first for the Cyclones.
Top qualifiers Canterbury beat Manawatu¯ 48-12 in Palmerston North three weeks ago and will be a tough ask for Manawatu¯ , but Dickins is confident of doing well.
‘‘Everyone is really excited and really positive to have that opportunity to actually get there and play in a semifinal, which we haven’t ever done,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s finals footy, and anything can happen, and it’s the team that wants it the most. Every team is beatable if you can make it a good contest.’’
Manawatu¯ coach Fusi Feaunati said they were a punter’s chance and anything could happen in a knockout game. ‘‘There wouldn’t be many people that would put half a bob on us to get a result this weekend. We’re not worried about that. It’s about getting down there and getting into the game.’’
Feaunati said the Cyclones knew they were extreme underdogs.
‘‘We’ve just got to brush those things aside. I said to the girls, ‘You can only deal with the most important two hours of your life on Saturday afternoon’.’’
Manawatu¯ have received a big boost, with star fullback Winiata back from concussion. Her experience and attacking ability will be welcomed greatly. She pushes Sydnee Wilkins to the wing, and Lauren Balsillie shifts from wing to second five-eighth.
The forward pack is unchanged from last week.